Supermarket plastic waste: Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA criticised for excessive packaging

We’re in the produce section of an inner-city supermarket, searching for the most wasteful examples of plastic packaging we can find.

Leading the way is Cip Hamilton, plastics campaign manager for the Australian Marine Conservation Society. She finds her target in seconds: a bulk package of mangoes, covered in three types of plastic.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Cip Hamilton. Credit: Justin McManus

Trays of wonky “I’m Perfect” mangoes have plastic stickers on the fruit, which is arranged on a plastic tray and secured with soft plastic wrapping: a triple threat of plastic.

“Things like The Odd Bunch [Woolworths], or the I’m Perfect range [Coles], which are aiming to reduce food waste – but are only available in plastic packaging – are some of the worst,” she says.

“